Luffy grinned and raised his fist. "I have been stuck at my current level for so long, and I don't want to smash a few mountains like Gramps to grow stronger when I have someone with an even harder skin to smash my fist against. I want to fight Kaido and beat him with my own fists, not just to grow stronger, but to punish evil."
He looked at Zoro. "You've been aching for a real fight."
He turned to Kuina. "You've surpassed your own limits time and again."
Then his eyes landed on Gion, Kujaku, Ain, and Doll. "And you four… you've all trained in silence, away from the spotlight. But I've seen it... your growth, your potential."
He finally gazed at Binz, Grus, Chaton, and Issho.
"You guys too... All of you have grown stronger day by day... so why be scared of a mere Four Emperor? Don't you guys feel your blood boiling just by thinking about beating Kaido and the Beasts Pirates?"
A breeze rolled across the deck, fluttering coats and rustling sails.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Zoro slammed his fist into his palm. "I'm in."
Kuina smiled. "Same."
Gion leaned in close and whispered in Luffy's ear, "As long as I get a kiss before the battle, count me in."
Luffy grinned and gave her cheek a teasing peck, making Chaton groan in the background.
Doll shook her head. "This is madness."
"...But it's our kind of madness," Ain added, stepping forward. "I'm in."
Grus took a deep breath. "I must be crazy… but I'm in too."
Even Chaton, despite his earlier protests, sighed. "I can't let you all die alone, can I? Count me in."
Finally, Issho spoke, his voice calm.
"I've seen the path of justice bend… and I've seen what happens when no one dares to change it. Luffy… if you're the one to shake the world, then I'll follow you."
Luffy stood, raising a hand.
"Good," he said with a grin that could've torn the sky open.
"Then let's go... raise hell."
The warship creaked as its massive frame slowly pushed away from Marineford's harbor, its black-and-gold flag fluttering high above under the morning sun.
The symbol of Divine Fist Luffy waved in defiance, almost mocking the world they were leaving behind.
The massive steel hull slid across the calm waters, causing long ripples to reach back toward the port. There was no fanfare, no official notice… just a silent departure.
But silence wasn't invisibility.
It was, after all, a huge warship.
Men and women at the docks paused their work. Some saluted out of respect, others whispered nervously.
Vice Admiral Luffy, who refused to wear Marine uniforms, who turned down promotions, who answered to no one but himself… was setting sail again.
On deck, the crew had dispersed into their small comfort groups. The mood was a strange blend of excitement and unease.
Luffy dragged a lounge chair across the deck and parked it right beneath the main sail's shadow. With a sigh, he collapsed into it, arms crossed behind his head, one leg dangling lazily off the side. His coat spread over the backrest, fluttering lightly in the breeze.
H pulled up his cap and tilted it forward, shading his eyes.
He looked like someone on vacation.
Tak… tak… tak…
Chaton's boots echoed softly as he made his way across the deck. His usually stern face carried a puzzled frown, and his hands rested behind his back in thought.
He finally stopped near Luffy, eyeing the laid-back youth who had once been dismissed as a chaotic brat and now commanded the respect of admirals and monsters alike.
"Luffy," He called, voice low but sharp. "I've been thinking."
Luffy cracked an eye open. "You thinking? That's dangerous."
Chaton smirked, but didn't rise to the tease. "You said we're heading to Wano."
Luffy tilted his head with a lazy grin. "Yeah."
Chaton's tone dropped, more serious. "You do know Wano's not just some island you can dock at and walk in. It's isolated from the world, surrounded by stormy seas, whirlpools, jagged cliffs, and natural fortifications. The only way in is through their guarded sea routes. You don't just sail in, unless you want Kaido's fangs tearing into us before we drop anchor."
Luffy listened to his words and didn't reply for a moment before he chuckled.
"Fufufu… You think I didn't account for that?" He said, grinning as he stretched his arms above his head, his joints cracking audibly.
Pop... Pop...
Chaton blinked. "What?"
Luffy pointed casually with his thumb toward where Issho sat, calm as ever near the bow of the ship, his cane sword resting against his shoulder.
"You think I brought Fujitora just for moral support?" Luffy asked with amusement. "His Gravity Fruit isn't just for slamming boulders or flipping buildings. With him, getting into Wano is child's play."
Chaton turned slowly toward Issho.
The middle aged man sat like a silent wall, his expression calm, his hair flowing gently in the sea breeze. His hands rested gently over the handle of his sheathed blade, and despite the calmness, an unmistakable aura radiated around him.
Chaton's face twitched. He had totally forgotten about Issho's devil fruit.
"R-Right… the Gravity Fruit…" He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish chuckle. "Guess I was overthinking it, huh…"
Luffy chuckled louder now. "You're not the first to forget how busted that fruit really is."
Issho turned slightly in their direction, a soft smile playing across his lips.
"My, my… You flatter me, Luffy-kun. I just follow orders."
"Yeah, yeah…" Luffy yawned. "Save the modesty for someone who buys it."
Chaton cleared his throat and gave Luffy a nod, then turned to walk off. "Well then… I'll go find Zoro. At least he won't mock me for asking a serious question."
He was wrong, of course.
As soon as Chaton walked over to where Zoro was leaning against the railing, the swordsman raised a brow and smirked.
"Heh. Let me guess… you forgot about Fujitora's powers and got schooled by the captain?"
Chaton's eyebrow twitched. "How the hell do you always know?"
Zoro pulled a small bottle of sake from his coat and took a swig.
Glug-glug.
"You've got the same face every time."
"Tch," Chaton muttered.
Zoro handed him a cup anyway. "Here. You'll need a drink. Wano's not a picnic."
Chaton took it, sipping slowly. The warmth spread through his chest.
For a moment, the two stood in silence, staring at the horizon as the sun continued to rise and the sea shimmered.
On the other side, Luffy chuckled and opened his system panel to check out his progress.
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[Status]
Name: Monkey D. Luffy
Age: 15
Level: 79
Title: Vice Admiral
HP: 55750
Physique: Incubus King
[Devil Fruit]
Warp-Warp Fruit - Awakened (Paramecia)
Rumber Rumber Fruit - Awakened (Logia)
Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika (Zoan - Mythical)
[Stat]
Strength: 5000 (+5000)
Agility: 3000 (+10000)
Durability: 3500 (+7500)
Perception: 3000 (+10000)
Charm: ∞
(Available points to distribute: 0)
[Skills]
Passive Skills:
– Detoxification (Lvl Max)
– Regeneration (Lvl Max)
– Irresistible Charm (Lvl Max)
– Tenacity (Lvl 99)
Active Skills:
– Conqueror Haki (Lvl 89)
– Armament Haki (Lvl 89)
– Observation Haki (Lvl 99)
– Shooting (Lvl 89)
– Swordplay (Lvl 89)
– Cooking (Lvl 89)
– Killing Intent (Lvl 89)
– Warp (Lvl Max)
– Dash (Lvl 89)
– Rokushiki (Lvl 89)
[Shop]
[Inventory]
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